Zebras

Blue sky forms the fortress of their world
I can picture them- the ebony and white
velvet stripes, the arch of necks, the
flint-edged hooves
Beneath the weather-regimented trees
they gather in the heat- to rest
Heat waves and the dreaded grunt of beasts of prey
then the hegira, enmasse
following
the calling of the rain
a vital splash of life-
they heed the voices
of the seasons change- along the hidden
pathways of
the sun browned plains
Suzanne Delaney
he•gi•ra also he•ji•ra (hi-ji'r?, hej'?r-?)
n.
1. A flight to escape danger.
2. also Hegira The flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D., marking the beginning of the Muslim era.
[Medieval Latin, from Arabic hijra, emigration, flight, from hajara, to depart.]

Post Comments

Suz this is a powerful and beautiful poem. A deeply held view of wildlife conveyed in your work. I've painted zebras, and there is no two a like. Their stripe are like our fingerprints. Warm Smiles, Connie

I remember you telling me you have lived in many different places in your lifetime as I have...This tells me you have at least visited Africa?...There's no other place I would rather see in my lifetime...I am fascinated with these wonderful creatures you describe so elegantly - Tim

Hi Tim: Thanks for your nice comments. I have never been to Africa in person but love Nature Documentaries so this is just from watching Natiional Geographic and shows like that. I hope you get to fulfill your wish to go there.I have another poem I wrote about zebras in a zoo that I will post soon.